London’s 360 Degree Infinity Pool

Usually rooftop pools are an afterthought when it comes to design, but London-based pool designers Compass Pools had the unique challenge of designing an infinity pool and then figuring out how to put a building under it. The pool has transparent sides that go directly to the sides of the building. The pool bottom is also transparent, providing those underneath a view from below.

But, looking at the images leaves you wondering how you’re supposed to get into the pool with no stairs or ladders anywhere in sight. Swimming pool designer and technical director Alex Kemsley explained, “We faced some quite major technical challenges to this building, the biggest one being how to actually get into the pool. Normally a simple ladder would suffice, but we didn’t want stairs on the outside of the building or in the pool as it would spoil the view—and obviously, you don’t want 600,000 litres of water draining through the building either.”

So how did they overcome this challenge? “The solution is based on the door of a submarine, coupled with a rotating spiral staircase which rises from the pool floor when someone wants to get in or out—the absolute cutting edge of swimming pool and building design and a little bit of James Bond to boot!”

No location has been given for the pool, though construction is said to be slated for 2020.